Somaliland main opposition party WADDANI has rejected the extension of the term of President Muse Bihi as announced on Saturday by the country’s House of Elders (Guurti).
Waddani and UCID Presidential candidates accused the President of rejecting various delegations from religious leaders, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals on Sunday at a separate press conference, emphasizing that their parties will never accept an extension of the President’s term.
Waddani Party presidential candidate Dr Abdirahman Irro said the extension was unconstitutional and vowed to marshal the citizens to reject it in toto.
He said the opposition will not recognize President Bihi once his constitutional term ends on November 13.
“We will not recognize president Bihi and his government after 13th November 2022 which is the end of his last constitutional term”, says Dr. Abdirahman Irro, the party’s presidential candidate.
Dr Irro maintained that the opposition will continue to push for presidential elections on November 13 as per the constitution and termed the decision by the Guurti and “null and void.”
“We were embarrassed with the decision. The democratic electoral system was dumped and exposed to darkness yesterday and the confidence of the public and their desire suppressed,” the Wadani party leader said.
“The president has intentionally resorted to illegitimacy, breach of the constitution and recklessness,” he added, vowing not accept his term extension.
The Presidential candidate of the UCID political party, Faisal Ali Warabe, said at his press conference that the presidential election could only be postponed if there is insecurity or drought.
“What the Senate decided yesterday was a scandal. It is not a law. The country is not experiencing extenuating circumstances, such as droughts and wars,” said Faisal.
On Saturday, the Guurti unilaterally and without consultation voted to extend the term of President Bihi by a further two years.
The Senate which is made up of President Bihi’s loyalists held a meeting early Saturday at its headquarters in Hargeisa, where it came up with the decision.Saleeban Mahmoud Aden, Somalialand’s senate chairman, said 72 members of parliament voted on Saturday to extend Abdi’s term by a “two-year period.” One MP objected.Lawmaker Omar Nur Waye, the lone member who did not vote on the extension, said there should have been more dialogue before the decision.
